Philosophy, Politics & Economics

Sharpen your thinking. Why PP&E at ONU?

The PP&E major positions you to improve the world at a societal level. You’ll gain an understanding of complex social issues and the real-world impact of policies, equipping you to evaluate outcomes that will bring about positive change.

PP&E majors thrive on finding solutions to contemporary problems by drawing upon diverse perspectives from philosophy, politics, and economics. This major is thus the perfect fit if you are interested in law, public policy, non-profit organizations, and other careers where people make a difference.

Our PPE program connects you to many different professors and courses. In your philosophy coursework, you’ll explore the big questions of life and learn to think deeply. In your political science courses, you’ll learn how political systems operate in the U.S. and abroad. Finally, in your economic courses – taught in the Dicke College of Business Administration – you’ll analyze the market forces that impact social issues.

Although you’ll study three subjects, you’ll still graduate in four years. Guaranteed.

Large institutions just can’t provide the individualized attention and opportunity you’ll find here. You could serve in student government or co-author research papers with your professors. You could study abroad, attend the Republican or Democratic National Convention, or spend a summer interning in Washington, D.C. You could lead a student organization or honorary society, play on a sports team, or perform with music groups.

At ONU, you’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships with your classmates. Our dedicated and distinguished professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, research, internships, and post-graduate or career preparations. They will become personally invested in your success and open doors for you.

Our PPE program prepares you for three distinct paths: law school; a career in the public, nonprofit or private industry sector; or graduate school. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be ready!

COURSES, CURRICULUM & PROGRAM RESOURCES

The PPE major requires you to take courses from three disciplines. Take classes like: Introduction to American Politics, Introduction to International Relations, Philosophy of Law, and Microeconomic Foundations for Business Planning.

Ignite your Passion

Find an internship you’ll love

We’ll connect you with strategic internships for you future. Our professors have national and international connections that lead to cool opportunities.

Like to Argue? So Do We!

Learn about rational argumentation, political philosophy, and the art of advocating for what matters to you and the world. PP&E majors compete in Mock Trial, Ethics Bowl, and a number of other activities that test and celebrate their argumentative skills.

Gain firsthand experience in the art and science of political polling. The Northern Poll gauges citizen perceptions and policy positions, giving students the chance to learn about the polling process, how to draft and organize questions, and how to review and report results. Recently, ONU political science students conducted a poll on the 2020 Presidential election, and their results were covered in The Columbus Dispatch, The Dayton Daily News, the Lima News and radio stations in Toledo and Cincinnati.
Gain perspective on the U.S. justice system by participating in Mock Trial. You’ll develop research and communication skills and prepare for law school. Each year, we send ONU teams to the American Mock Trial Association’s intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Each team prepares either a civil or criminal case for litigation before a panel of two or three judges. With the resources of our Pettit College of Law, our Mock Trial teams receive excellent preparation and they excel at these competitions.
Learn about diplomacy and multiculturalism by participating in Model UN. Model UN is an academic organization that simulates the actions of the United Nations. Each year, ONU’s team attends different conferences and represents one of the countries currently recognized by the UN. Our team prepares to represent that country’s stance on real-world issues in mock committees at international competitions in Chicago and New York City in the fall and spring semesters.
Find yourself in the center of activity in the nation’s capital by participating in The Washington Center (TWC) program. TWC’s goal is to be a bridge between higher education and professional careers. TWC provide opportunities to work in the heart of government, meet people from all over the world, develop professional skills, build your resume and create a network of contacts. Many ONU students find full-time employment through their TWC experiences.
Expand your worldview and experience different cultures. We encourage our history majors to spend a semester or summer living, studying, and traveling in another country. ONU’s extensive Study Abroad program has direct arrangements with several universities across the world. Our students have studied in Spain, South Korea, Cuba, England, Chile, France, China, Germany, Scotland, Costa Rica, and Iceland.
Are you ready to grapple with the biggest ethical issues of our times? If the answer is yes, the Ethics Club is for you. The club meets once a week to explore and discuss complex ethical cases and to prepare for the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. There are no winners or losers in its discussions, only thinkers and seekers. The atmosphere is respectful and honest. The club examines each issue from multiple viewpoints and discusses the ethical principles and values that could be applied to each case. Recent topics have included the ethical issues associated with self-driving cars, intersex athletes competing in the Olympics, the television series about teen suicide called “Thirteen Reasons Why,” and the possibility of “brain re-animation” to bring dead people back to life, among others.
Every year, the ONU Ethics Club has the opportunity to participate in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl sponsored by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Teams from across the U.S. and Canada participate in 11 regional competitions in the fall and winners attend nationals. During each competition, teams from different colleges must argue and defend a position on an ethical question. Questions address a wide variety of topics, from business ethics to personal relationships, social issues to political affairs.Teams are judged by how well they understand the facts of the case, articulate the ethical concerns, present an effective argument and respond to any challenges from the opposing team.
Join a student organization or honorary society. Membership opens the door to opportunities for professional development, attendance at regional and national conferences, networking and more. For example, students in the Philosophy Club meet once a week to discuss life’s deep questions. The conversations are always respectful and enlightened. The atmosphere is always relaxed, and sometimes pizza is served. The Philosophy Club gives you a chance to encounter different viewpoints and to explore what you believe and why.

ONU Ethics Bowl Teams Outperform

Students in the PP&E major and Ethics minor compete at Ethics Bowl, where teams present their ethical arguments on cases based on today's most pressing issues.

ONU’s Ethics Bowl team is one of the best in the region. In the past three years, we’ve outperformed teams from Bowling Green State University, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, Oakland University, and the University of Dayton, among others.

A Senior Thesis to State Your Case.

Engage in a year-long senior thesis project, working with faculty one-on-one to display your strengths and advocate your position. Not only will you research and write a substantive thesis informed by philosophical, political, and economic perspectives, you will present it to an audience of faculty and peers at a campus event. Recent subjects include:

Cleaning Up Lake Erie
The Moral Right to Self-Defense with a Firearm
A Case for a Prima Facie Moral Duty to Vote
The Case for a Social Contract of Care
The Moral and Economic Argument for Abortion Rights

Philosophy + Economics = Law School.

According to a 2025 study published in the Journal of the American Philosophy Association, philosophy and economics students receive the highest and third-highest LSAT scores. With the PP&E major, you’ll be doubly prepared for success on the make-or-break exam for law school entry. Many PP&E majors use the 3+3 opportunity to attend Ohio Northern’s Pettit College of Law, while others have excelled at a variety of prestigious law schools, including:

Wayne State University Law School (MI)
University of Wyoming College of Law
Mitchell Hamline School of Law (MN)
University of Toledo College of Law

And After Law School? PP&E graduates who attended law school are now employed as:

Public Defender, Allen County Indiana, Children in Need of Services Department
Lawyer, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, a law firm specializing in energy, labor, and litigation
Target Corporation, Legal Division, Risk Consultant

A Life of Purpose. PP&E graduates have launched careers with a wide range of employers, including:

Amnesty International
Families USA, a nonpartisan health care consumer advocacy organization
Hamilton Capital, a financial planning firm
Indeed.com

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

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